By Robin Jones

DEMANDS for greater respect and protection for referees has been made by the Kent FA after the number of available match officials dropped by a quarter this season.
The county FA’s referee development officer Nick Dunn said that last weekend, an experienced League referee turning out to regain match fitness was punched after just 13 minutes of a local league game, and elsewhere, another was followed into his dressing room by a manager and verbally attacked. received social media threats.
In an open letter to clubs, Dunn, who is also a referee himself, said: “It is exceptiona...